Psych Discourse: FAll 2017

By Afiya Mbilishaka, Patricia Coffen, Avery Lacey University of the District of Columbia

Research scholars often miscalculate the obstacles in recruiting community samples of Black participants for psychology research studies. To be sensitive to the multigenerational cultural mistrust in research with Black participants, we must ethically align our research strategies with the cultural norms set within the Black community. Black psychologists should benefit from extending recruitment strategies to include safe spaces in the Black community, such as the hair care setting. Psychology and public health researchers have concluded that hair care spaces hold a unique role in society because they result in both supporting and styling their community customers (Solomon et al, 2004; Anderseon, Cimbal, & Maile, 2010; Mangum & Woods, 2011). However, little is known about Black psychologists entering Black hair care spaces. The aims of this paper are to: (1) Illustrate the psychological importance of hair care spaces in the Black community; (2) Summarize the PsychoHairapy Research Lab “Hair, Health, and Heritage Survey” design, study aims, and data collection experiences; and (3) Encourage Black psychology research, prevention and intervention planning within the Black hair care space. This article argues that the Black beauty salon and barbershop space is a culturally-relevant setting to address mental health disparities beginning with cultural and ethical data collection recruitment practices.

The Significance of Black Hair Care Spaces

Public health researchers have found that Black barbershops and beauty salons offer a space for people to discuss their health concerns (Linnan & Ferguson, 2007). Specifically, Linnan and colleagues (2001) concluded that ninety- four percent of licensed cosmetologists report health discussions with their clients. These findings are significant as Black hair care spaces should be viable for data collection because they are accessible in each community across demographics, customers regularly frequent these spaces at least once every 4 to 8 weeks, and spend 1 to 5 hours getting services (Linnan & Ferguson, 2007). Public health researchers are beginning to document this cultural phenomenon through studies that demonstrate how health topics are openly discussed in Black hair care settings and through the implementation of programs for barbers and beauticians as health advisors (Solomon et al, 2004; Linnan & Ferguson, 2007). With this existing relationship between hair and physical health, hair may also be an entry point to address Black mental health needs (Mangum & Woods, 2011). Hence, psychological research connecting hair, mental health, and physical health is needed for culturally competent interventions.

Historically, the hairstylist held a certain status in the traditional African and African American community, as they were often seen as extremely dependable (Byrd & Tharps, 2014). Through the process of consultation, cleaning, moisturizing, styling, and adorning the hair, a number of hours to a number of days were spent between client and stylists in traditional West African society (Byrd & Tharps, 2014). Due to the intimate nature of the grooming process, sometimes family members were the only ones who could be tasked to engage in this exchange or children could inherit long trusted community stylists (Byrd & Tharps, 2014). As a testament to retention of African behavioral and relational systems, many of the traditions can be found in modern hair care systems amongst Blackhairstylists. According to Gill (2010), the emergence of hair care as a profession and the opening of shops, allowed for the creation of a “safe space” for African Americans to both generate income and maintain their cultural values. Thereby, Black barbershops and beauty shops may play a crucial role in the formation of a Black identity and sustaining community functions (Gill, 2010). Further, hair holds unique meaning in the Black community and hair has emerged as a psychological variable in self-perception (Capodilupo & Kim, 2013, Capodilupo, 2014). Black hair care professionals may shape the oral culture in the salon environment. Hairstylists can provide a “kind ear” to clients in the salon environment and should be good listeners to clients (Anderseon, Cimbal, & Maile, 2010). About 90% of customers talked to their stylists “often or a lot” during their hair care process as evidenced by survey and observation (Linnan et al, 2007). African American hairstylists engage in “cross talk” where the stylist-client dyad engages in conversations with other stylists and clients in the salon setting (Solomon et al, 2004).

The Black hair care space is a culturally relevant setting to collect psychological data. Brown (2004) examined the reasons why African Americans are the most underrepresented in research. She related this to participation recruitment and found that the perceived irrelevance of research to their lives, the ability to identify with the implications of the research, and burdens to participation related to time and incentive were major factors. Strategies and ethical considerations amongst researchers have to be defined to improve recruitment efforts of Black participants in safe spaces. This article considers the importance of the barbershop/beauty salon space to collect data about culturally meaningful psychological topics through an ongoing psychological study.

PsychoHairapy and the “Hair, Health, and Heritage Survey”

The theory of PsychoHairapy is focused on using hair as an entry point into psychological services (Mangum & Woods, 2011). Within this theory, barbers and hairstylists are viewed as lay health advisors and counselors that assess mental health needs and make micro-counseling interventions. To gather data on this theory and intervention model, the “Hair, Health, and Heritage Survey” was prepared to deconstruct the relationships between hair, mental health, and cultural identity for the Black community. The principal investigator of the PsychoHairapy Research Lab gained the Institutional Review Board of the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) approval to use the Black hair space as a primary recruitment site for the study.

The PsychoHairapy Research lab members developed a list of Black-owned beauty salons and barbershops in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia (also known as “the DMV”). Barbershops and salons were eligible recruitment sites in the study if they: (1) were owned by a Black person, (2) Black people were the primary customers, (3) were located within a 10-mile radius of Washington, DC borders, and

were not a chain shop. This data was available via city business directories, social media, and word-of-mouth. Ninety-two salons and barbershops were identified and placed on a visual map using digital mapping software. Next, researchers grouped target locations using a list of shops mapped throughout the DMV, organizing them according to states and city locations. Within each neighborhood, the distance between each salon was measured for proximity to see if data should be collected by driving or by walking on foot.

The principal investigator and student researchers engaged in data collection training to standardize the procedures of approach shop owners, barbers, stylists, and customers. The research team followed a scripted protocol and practiced in lab-based scenarios to pilot test the initial recruitment protocol. Research assistants were trained to attend to body language and facial expressions to evaluate participants understanding of the study and interest levels. Student researchers found that the protocol script on how to make the introduction was lacking in culturally meaningful language for DC natives. Several revisions were made to make “authentic” conversations and FAQ responses. Therefore, the principal investigator decided to only include student research assistants that identified as Black women in their 20s and 30s born and raised in Washington, DC with varying hairstyles. This design was exercised to create cultural matching between potential participants and researchers. Also, the participants weregiven the incentive to not only be entered in a raffle to win $200 on amazon.com, but were also offered free hair products and du-rags, as a culturally meaningful incentive in the Black hair care setting.

The research assistants employed three major recruitment techniques at the salon including 1) the use of study fliers left at the front desk/receptionist area of the salon/barbershop, 2) speaking with the owners of the establishment, and 3) speaking individually to waiting customers. The student researchers found that presenting their UDC student identification when introducing themselves to shop owners would provide a level of comfort in knowing they were not being exploited by a company or solicitor. It appeared to the student researchers that IDs authenticated the research and their involvement in the study. The salon and barbershop owners varied in their response to recruit Black participants in their spaces. Some barbers and stylists encouraged the research assistants to speak directly to their customers all at one time in hair care space, while others decided to speak on behalf of the researchers to their customers. There were some business owners that let the research assistants distribute fliers directly to each customer and give them the survey directly. The research assistants understood that the barbers and stylists knew the best method to recruit their customers on their level of comfort. Some shops were so full with clients it seemed nearly impossible to go from person to person and explain the material, which took a lot of time to answer each prospective participant’s specific questions. Braiding salons and barbershops were more receptive to research assistant recruitment in comparison to traditional Black beauty salons that had a quieter conversational volume and spa atmosphere. After gaining the trust of the owner, the person seen as the leader in this space, customers were more likely to trust the research assistants and take the survey.

Researchers had some difficulty explaining the purpose of the survey in relationship to the research sometimes, yet researchers modified recruitment strategies for what appeared to be most effective. Asking people what they think about their hair is a complex question when related to health and heritage. The approximated time to complete the survey was an issue for some potential participants. People did not want to give up 30 minutes of their time to complete a survey while they were getting their self-care service. And yet, telling people that they get to tell their story about their hair experiences got them excited to actually participate. The research assistants found it most effective to conduct recruitment on Friday evenings and Saturday morning and afternoons. The Black barbershop and beauty salon environment are well attended at these times since people are not working and can bring their children in for grooming as well. In addition, the research assistants used the Easter holiday weekend as a point of data collection because of the knowledge that Black people get their hair cut and hair styled in preparation for church services on Easter Sunday. The study recruitment methods are continuing to evolve and will expand to other cities based on the Washington, DC recruitment processes.

Implications for Data Collection in Black Psychologists

Data collection experiences from the “Hair, Health, and Heritage Survey” can be helpful in the development of other psychological studies focused on Black Psychology. The appeal of the Black hair care space for data collection for Black psychological research is building. The study reveals the positioning of the Black hair care space as an innovative research site to recruit Black community samples. Further research is needed in the Black hair care setting to expand the potential for this safe space and to address psychological needs. We hope that barbers and stylists become partners with psychological practices and research institutions to further this type of community based research.

Overall, participant recruitment in research is a complex process (Blanton, Morris, Prettyman, & McCulloch, 2006). Establishing a data collection protocol and script is a traditional method and effective tool in data collecting, yet it needs to meet the specific setting for authentic engagement with Black community samples. Black psychologists need adequate methods of recruitment and communicating the data collections purpose to community members. When recruiting participants, historical, social, and cultural factors of the process of research are important forresearch scholars at all academic levels when recruiting within the Black hair care setting. For student research assistants, it can educate them on the power of effective participant recruitment outside of the university setting. Professionals and student researchers alike must also be clear that even if a person does not participate in the study, they still need to walk away with a positive interaction and acknowledgement that Black psychologists have an interest in their lives. Although there are challenges, Black Psychology researchers and practitioners can benefit from going out of their offices and classrooms and being hands-on with the Black community in hair care spaces.

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